Briefing-38
Briefing-38
Introduction To
Intellectual Property
and Copyright
Introduction To
Intellectual Property
and Copyright
UKOLN: Supporting The Cultural Heritage Sector
UKOLN: Supporting The Cultural Heritage Sector
About Copyright
About Copyright
Copyright is a type of intellectual property that protects artistic works such as literature,
music, art and recordings. It provides protection for creators as well as publishers. It is
also important for publishers, such as museums, to protect themselves against breaches
of copyright.
Copyright is a type of intellectual property that protects artistic works such as literature,
music, art and recordings. It provides protection for creators as well as publishers. It is
also important for publishers, such as museums, to protect themselves against breaches
of copyright.
Copyright varies country by country although there is increasing harmonisation within
the EU, and international treaties cover many countries.
Copyright varies country by country although there is increasing harmonisation within
the EU, and international treaties cover many countries.
There is no need to register copyright.
There is no need to register copyright.
Some key facts relating to UK law:
Some key facts relating to UK law:
•
In a literary, musical or artistic work (including a photograph), copyright lasts
until 70 years after the death of the creator.
•
In a literary, musical or artistic work (including a photograph), copyright lasts
until 70 years after the death of the creator.
•
In sound recordings and broadcasts copyright usually belongs to the producer,
broadcaster or publisher.
•
In sound recordings and broadcasts copyright usually belongs to the producer,
broadcaster or publisher.
•
Sound recordings are generally protected for 50 years from the year of
publication. Broadcasts are protected for 50 years.
•
Sound recordings are generally protected for 50 years from the year of
publication. Broadcasts are protected for 50 years.
These guidelines are an interpretation of UK law. Please take appropriate legal advice
before making any significant decisions regarding copyright of resources used in your
service or project.
These guidelines are an interpretation of UK law. Please take appropriate legal advice
before making any significant decisions regarding copyright of resources used in your
service or project.
Establishing Copyright
Establishing Copyright
It is important to establish copyright from the outset of your project as this may take a
significant amount of time, and influence the viability of the project. If copyright cannot
be traced then suitable records should be kept of attempts to establish copyright. You
may then choose to publish uncleared material ‘at risk’. Legal advice should be sought
if you are in any doubt.
It is important to establish copyright from the outset of your project as this may take a
significant amount of time, and influence the viability of the project. If copyright cannot
be traced then suitable records should be kept of attempts to establish copyright. You
may then choose to publish uncleared material ‘at risk’. Legal advice should be sought
if you are in any doubt.
This document is available at:
<http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/documents/briefing-38/>
This document is available at:
<http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/documents/briefing-38/>
Permission
Permission
For material in copyright, you should seek permission from the creator or copyright
holder. This will relate to particular uses, for instance in a guidebook or on the
museum’s web site.
For material in copyright, you should seek permission from the creator or copyright
holder. This will relate to particular uses, for instance in a guidebook or on the
museum’s web site.
There are some exceptions to the copyright owner’s rights. For example, you may be
allowed limited copying of a work for non-commercial research and private study,
criticism or review, reporting current events, and teaching in schools. The copyright
holder should still be acknowledged and there are limits in terms of the number of
copies and for large amounts of material.
There are some exceptions to the copyright owner’s rights. For example, you may be
allowed limited copying of a work for non-commercial research and private study,
criticism or review, reporting current events, and teaching in schools. The copyright
holder should still be acknowledged and there are limits in terms of the number of
copies and for large amounts of material.
Safeguarding Copyright
Safeguarding Copyright
Since placing material on the web makes it easier for people to easily reuse it, you
should consider ways of safeguarding your copyright.
Since placing material on the web makes it easier for people to easily reuse it, you
should consider ways of safeguarding your copyright.
Common ways are to make users register to use material, publish only low-resolution
images, and imbed digital watermarks.
Common ways are to make users register to use material, publish only low-resolution
images, and imbed digital watermarks.
You may judge that while these approaches might help protect misuse they will also
limit what might be considered to be unharmful usage. Low-resolution images may still
be good enough for many uses, but are not generally good enough for paper-based
publications. Digital watermarks can be removed by expert users.
You may judge that while these approaches might help protect misuse they will also
limit what might be considered to be unharmful usage. Low-resolution images may still
be good enough for many uses, but are not generally good enough for paper-based
publications. Digital watermarks can be removed by expert users.
Certainly, restricting some services to registered users may be appropriate for a
comprehensive high-profile service such as SCRAN, the Scottish online learning
resource, but for a smaller site this approach could be off-putting for the majority of
users and still not prevent misuse.
Certainly, restricting some services to registered users may be appropriate for a
comprehensive high-profile service such as SCRAN, the Scottish online learning
resource, but for a smaller site this approach could be off-putting for the majority of
users and still not prevent misuse.
You may choose to licence your digital assets through a Creative Commons licence
which provides a more open approach to rights.
You may choose to licence your digital assets through a Creative Commons licence
which provides a more open approach to rights.
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
This document has been produced from information contained within the Renaissance
East Midlands Simple Guide to Digitisation that was researched and written by Julian
Tomlin and is available from <http://www.renaissanceeastmidlands.org.uk/>. We are
grateful for permission to republish this document under a Creative Commons licence.
Anyone wishing to republish this document should include acknowledgements to
Renaissance East Midlands and Julian Tomlin.
This document has been produced from information contained within the Renaissance
East Midlands Simple Guide to Digitisation that was researched and written by Julian
Tomlin and is available from <http://www.renaissanceeastmidlands.org.uk/>. We are
grateful for permission to republish this document under a Creative Commons licence.
Anyone wishing to republish this document should include acknowledgements to
Renaissance East Midlands and Julian Tomlin.
Related IntroByte Briefing Documents
Related IntroByte Briefing Documents
Further IntroByte briefing documents published by UKOLN for the cultural heritage
sector are available at <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/documents/#legal>.
Further IntroByte briefing documents published by UKOLN for the cultural heritage
sector are available at <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/documents/#legal>.
Produced by UKOLN: a national centre of expertise in digital information management
For further information see <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/>
Produced by UKOLN: a national centre of expertise in digital information management
For further information see <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/>
Mar 2009
Mar 2009